Every musician knows that in order to be any sorts of good, you need to have some quality alone time with your instrument. Practice time.

However, if you're anything like me, you tend to procrastinate and dread spending those tedious hours alone, hacking away at your instrument being reminded of how bad you are. Practicing is unavoidable, however I noticed recently the extent of which I will go to avoid time in the practice room. I decided to take note of the random things I justified to myself that were more important than getting better, and the results were quite humorous while also a bit pathetic. With no further ado, learn from me and just GO PRACTICE!

1. Watched videos of people who are better at their instrument than me.

This one was easily justifiable to me; and it is so easy with YouTube. Step One: Log on to YouTube. Step Two: find the Vic Firth channel. Step Three: Let all videos play on loop. I've always been taught that it helps to watch good examples and watch people who are better than you, so...that automatically makes me learn my scales....right? :,)

2. Did every single piece of laundry known to man.

Im telling you...for this one, I even asked my roommates. "Any laundry you need done??" Because what better time to wash my bedsheets and my clothes and my shirts that I haven't even worn in ages than during my scheduled practice hours?

3. Cleaned LITERALLY everything possible.

To be fair, a lot of it needed to be cleaned. But I'm sure that one sticky spot on the end table could have waited for me to break out a practice pad and hack away at some rudiments.

4. Watched a TON of Netflix.

I just really want to know what happens to Barney and Robin in How I Met Your Mother, even though this is my fourth time watching it. I am setting myself up for disappointment, both in my musicianship AND with the series finale of How I Met Your Mother.

5. Researched politics.

I just received my absentee ballot and I wanted to make sure I am an educated voter, even though I didn't need to mail it in for another two weeks and I can research that stuff literally any other time. But it's the FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY!!!

6. Social Media stalked all of my friends.

If You're Reading This, I Stalked You.

7. Watched tutorials for things I will never do.

I promise, this recipe for Milanesa-Stuffed Garlic Bread will do me great use eventually, even though I don't own a stove and don't even know what Milanesa is.

8. Took needless personality quizzes.

I just really need to know what type of donut I would be, okay??

9. Took numerous trips to the store.

My friends text me and ask me if I need anything from Wal-Mart and even though I've pretty much hit my credit card limit, I'll tag along for the adventure. Because I need a mental break from all the practicing I've not been doing.

10. Thought to myself, "I should be practicing..."

And then continued to figure out what donut I am, but now with a sense of impending doom and stress looming over me.

11. Shopped Online

Does it count if I was shopping for new sticks and mallets and other items that pertain to my instrument?

12. Wrote This Article

Counterproductive. I am aware.